NYARUGENGE - Former beneficiaries of the beleaguered Italia Solidale, a local church-affiliated NGO involved in a financial scam, have alerted Nyarugenge Court of Lower Instance, of fears that that those who mismanaged its funds are planning to flee the country.

Between 1998 -2003, Italia Solidale which is based in Italy sent about Rwf 3billion to help over 2,000 orphans left behind by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

But senior NGO leaders in Kigali reportedly diverted the funds for their own enrichment and have been arraigned before court to explain how they spent the money.

Guardians of the orphans allege that the twelve leaders accused of mismanaging the funds are secretly selling their properties before fleeing the country.

"We are worried because most of them have already sold their assets. We have it from a credible source that they are planning to escape justice,” Jean Baptiste Ndoriyobigya, one of the guardians in Kigali claimed on Monday.

"Some of them participated in the Genocide,” Ndoriyobigya alleged. 

A Gacaca Court in Gatsata, Gasabo District, on March 24, convicted and sentenced Agnes Mukamurara to 15 years imprisonment for her role in the Genocide. She is one of the twelve Italia Solidale leaders accused of mismanaging the funds.

The hearing of the case will start tomorrow at Nyarugenge Court of Higher Instance. When contacted on Monday, Nyarugenge Court president, Joseph Kabeja, begged the guardians to stay calm, saying ‘it would not be easy for the accused to escape justice’ saying that they were being monitored.

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